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Group Seeks Investigation of Ex-St. Louis Priest

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ST. LOUIS (AP) — An advocacy group for victims of clergy abuse is asking federal prosecutors to investigate a priest formerly of St. Louis who is accused of molesting as many as 30 teenagers in Bangladesh.

The Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, or SNAP, said Wednesday that the Rev. William Christensen frequently travels between the U.S. and Bangladesh. SNAP is asking U.S. Attorney Richard Callahan in St. Louis to determine if Christensen violated any U.S. laws.

A spokeswoman for Callahan declined comment.

Messages seeking comment from Christensen were not returned. He has denied wrongdoing. In fact, he filed a slander lawsuit earlier this month against one of his accusers in Bangladesh.

SNAP is also urging the Catholic Church to bring Christensen to the U.S. and put him in a secure treatment center.